| The Essential Electric Light Orchestra | |
| Type: | greatest |
| Artist: | Electric Light Orchestra |
| Cover: | EssentialELOalbumcover.jpg |
| Released: | 1 April 2003 |
| Recorded: | September 1972 – January 1986 |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Length: | 60:58 |
| Label: | Epic |
| Producer: | Jeff Lynne |
| Prev Title: | ELO 2 (First Light Series) |
| Prev Year: | 2003 |
| Next Year: | 2005 |
The Essential Electric Light Orchestra is a 15-track, single-CD, US-only compilation album by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), released in 2003. It is part of Sony Music's The Essential series.
On 2 September 2008, an eco-friendly repackaging of the album, retitled Playlist: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, was released. This edition includes a multimedia section on the CD that features photos, credits, and two wallpapers.
A third edition of the album was released in 2011. This version features 37 tracks on two discs, arranged in chronological order.[1] It was the third ELO compilation to present the songs in chronological order, preceded by the US releases Olé ELO in 1976 and in 1995.
Each edition of the album features a different cover.
All tracks are written by Jeff Lynne, except "Roll Over Beethoven", which was written by Chuck Berry.
| Essential Electric Light Orchestra 2CD | |
| Type: | greatest |
| Artist: | Electric Light Orchestra |
| Cover: | The Essential Electric Light Orchestra 2011 US album cover.jpg |
| Released: | 10 October 2011 (UK/Europe), 24 October 2011 (US) |
| Recorded: | 1970–2007 |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Length: | 144:56 |
| Label: | Epic, Legacy, Sony Music |
| Producer: | Jeff Lynne |
| Prev Year: | 2007 |
| Next Year: | 2012 |